MDI Gurgaon Fellowship : Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Q: How do the new HR programs of IIM Ranchi, NMIMS, and XIMB measure up to the established ones of XLRI, TISS, MDI and SCMHRD?

The simple answer to your question is no, the new HR programs of IIM Ranchi, NMIMS, or XIMB are not at par with the established ones XLRI, TISS, MDI, and SCMHRD. The established programs especially that of XLRI are the epitome of HR programs. They cannot be compared to the new ones at any given level or parameter. Faculty: The professors of XLRI are renowned throughout the industry for their competency. They specialize in almost every domain one can think of be it Law, Competency Modeling, Compensation, or Performance Management. Peers: It’s the cream students who get the opportunity to get into a prestigious college like XLRI. You can see tough competition between the finest students at college. Every individual has a valuable opinion and stands to contradict others. Their thinking pattern is broad and given a case study, they look at all angles from accounting to finance to laws while proposing the solution. The situation at TISS is also quite similar. Now one can say that the curriculum can be replicated and learned faculty can be sought to match the quality of the HR program at these institutes. But the truth is faculty and curriculum are the main but not the only factors that determine an institute's worth. Its own culture, ethics, and background have a lot to do with the programs it offers. So one cannot match XLRIs programs no matter how much they try.

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Fellow Programme in Management - Non-Residential (FPM Part Time) at Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon is a part-time doctoral-level research programme equivalent to a PhD degree, approved by AICTE and recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). This track is specifically designed for senior working executives who wish to pursue doctoral research while continuing their professional careers. Eligibility requires a minimum age of 35 years and at least 10 years of managerial work experience (preferably at senior level). Classes are held on weekends and evenings. The annual fee for FPM Non-Residential scholars is INR 2,47,250 (first year), with tuition fees increasing by 10% annually from the second year onwards. The programme typically takes 3-4 years to complete (extendable up to 7 years maximum), with an annual intake of 20 scholars across both Residential and Non-Residential tracks combined.

Applications for the FPM 2026 batch have recently closed (deadline: March 18, 2026). Shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews in April/May 2026 (tentative). The next batch (FPM 2027) applications are expected to open around November 2026. Candidates are advised to monitor the MDI Gurgaon website (mdi.ac.in) for updates.

Key Points

Part-time doctoral programme equivalent to a PhD degree, recognized by AIU and approved by AICTE.
Designed exclusively for senior working executives: minimum age 35 years and minimum 10 years of managerial work experience (preferably at senior level).
Classes held on weekends and evenings, allowing participants to continue their professional careers.
Programme structure is similar to FPM (Residential): coursework, Comprehensive Research Evaluation (CRE), and thesis work.
Publication requirement: minimum 2 publications (maximum 1 case study in Harvard/Ivey/ACRC).
Scholars with MBA from MDI/IIMs/XLRI/FMS (minimum 6.0/10 CGPA) are exempted from entrance test requirement.
No monthly stipend or fee waivers for Non-Residential scholars (unlike Residential track).
Access to world-class library with Bloomberg Terminal, CMIE databases, Scopus, Statista, and 131,000+ eBooks and journals.
Unique 'Exploratio' Research Seminar Series connecting scholars with alumni and industry practitioners.
Programme helps executives enhance research and consulting skills, build on past experience, and prepare for careers in academia or consulting.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

MDI FPM Part Time Fees

FPM Non-Residential scholars pay tuition fees and other charges as per the fee structure below. Unlike the Residential track, Non-Residential scholars do not receive a monthly stipend or fee waivers. The first-year total fee is INR 2,47,250. From the second year onwards, tuition fees and library fees increase by 10% annually until the Thesis Viva.

Fee Components

Fee Component	FPM Non-Residential (Annual)
Tuition Fees	1,36,500
Learning Material Fees (One Time)	26,250
Student Activities (One Time)	10,500
Library Fee	31,500
Alumni Fee (One Time)	15,000
Security Deposit (One Time, Refundable)	27,500
Total (First Year)	2,47,250

Security deposit of INR 27,500 is refundable at the end of the programme.
Alumni fee, learning material fees, student activities, and security deposit are one-time charges payable at the time of admission.
From the 2nd year onwards, tuition fees and library fees are payable with a 10% annual hike until the Thesis Viva.
Application fee: INR 3,000 (inclusive of 18% GST), non-refundable.
No monthly stipend, contingency grant, or conference grant for Non-Residential scholars.
MDI Gurgaon reserves the right to revise fees with due notice.

MDI FPM Part Time Admission 2026

MDI Gurgaon FPM Non-Residential admissions are conducted annually along with the Residential track. Applications for the FPM 2026 batch opened on November 21, 2025 and closed on March 18, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews in April/May 2026. The selection process requires valid scores from CAT, GMAT, GRE, UGC-JRF, or GATE. Candidates with an MBA from MDI/IIMs/XLRI/FMS (minimum 6.0/10 CGPA) are exempted from the test score requirement.

Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Opens	November 21, 2025
Application Deadline	March 18, 2026 (11:59 PM)
Interview (Online/Offline)	April/May 2026 (Tentative)
Programme Commencement	June/July 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Registration Period	Exam Date	Result Date
CAT 2025	August 1 - September 20, 2025	November 30, 2025	December 24, 2025
GMAT	Rolling (year-round)	Year-round	Immediate (score valid 5 years)
GRE	Rolling (year-round)	Year-round	Immediate (score valid 5 years)
UGC-JRF	Twice a year (June and December)	As per NTA schedule	As per NTA schedule
GATE 2026	August 24 - September 26, 2025	February 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 2026	March 19, 2026

Scores must be valid as on the last date of application (March 18, 2026 for FPM 2026 batch).

Note: Applications for the FPM 2026 batch are now closed. The next batch (FPM 2027) applications are expected to open around November 2026.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 60% marks in Class 10, Class 12, and Bachelor's degree, along with a Master's degree in any discipline with at least 60% marks (first division) from a recognised institution; OR
Five-year integrated Master's degree with at least 60% marks after completing Class 12 with at least 60% marks; OR
Bachelor's degree with minimum 60% marks and a professional qualification (CA, CMA, CS) with at least 50% marks.
Minimum age of 35 years as on the last date of application (March 18, 2026).
Minimum 10 years of managerial work experience (preferably at senior level) as on the last date of application.
Valid score in CAT/GMAT/GRE/UGC-JRF/GATE (exemption available for MBA holders from MDI/IIMs/XLRI/FMS with minimum 6.0/10 CGPA).

Admission Process

Apply online at mdi.ac.in with a non-refundable application fee of INR 3,000 (inclusive of 18% GST).
Submit valid entrance test scores (CAT/GMAT/GRE/UGC-JRF/GATE) along with academic records and work experience details.
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview (online or offline) at MDI Gurgaon.
Final selection is based on academic record, entrance test score, research aptitude, work experience, and interview performance.
Selected candidates receive an admission offer and must complete the joining formalities by the given deadline.

MDI FPM Part Time Scholarships 2026

FPM Non-Residential scholars do not receive the monthly stipend or fee waivers that are available to Residential scholars. However, the programme offers prestigious awards for academic excellence.

Awards and Support

Award/Support	Details
Director's Gold Medal	Awarded to the scholar with the highest CGPA at programme completion
No Monthly Stipend	Non-Residential scholars do not receive the INR 60,000/month stipend
No Fee Waiver	Tuition and other fees are payable as per the fee structure
Employer Sponsorship	Many organisations sponsor senior executives for doctoral programmes; candidates should check with their employer

FPM Non-Residential scholars are encouraged to explore employer sponsorship, government research grants, and education loans.
External research grants from ICSSR, DST, and other bodies may be available for specific research areas.
Candidates should contact the FPM Office at fpm-office@mdi.ac.in for details on any available financial support.

MDI FPM Part Time FAQs

Ques. What is the FPM Non-Residential programme at MDI Gurgaon? How is it different from the Residential track?

Ans. The FPM Non-Residential is a part-time doctoral programme designed for senior working executives (minimum 35 years of age, minimum 10 years of managerial experience). Classes are held on weekends and evenings, allowing participants to continue their professional careers. Unlike the Residential track, Non-Residential scholars do not receive the monthly stipend of INR 60,000 or fee waivers. The programme structure (coursework, CRE, thesis) is similar to the Residential track.

Ques. Can I pursue the FPM Non-Residential while working full-time? How demanding is the programme?

Ans. Yes, the FPM Non-Residential is specifically designed for working executives. Classes are held on weekends and evenings. However, the programme is academically rigorous and requires significant time commitment for coursework, research, data collection, and thesis writing. Participants should be prepared to dedicate substantial time outside of work hours to the programme.

Ques. Is the FPM Non-Residential degree recognized for faculty positions at IIMs and other top B-schools?

Ans. Yes, the MDI Gurgaon FPM (both Residential and Non-Residential) is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as equivalent to a PhD degree. FPM graduates are eligible for faculty positions at IIMs, IITs, XLRI, and other top B-schools. However, individual institutions may have their own criteria for faculty appointments.

Ques. What is the publication requirement for FPM Non-Residential scholars?

Ans. FPM Non-Residential scholars must have a minimum of 2 publications to qualify for the title of Fellow. This can be 2 peer-reviewed journal publications, or 1 peer-reviewed journal publication plus 1 case study published in Harvard Business School Publishing, Richard Ivey, or ACRC. In joint publications, the scholar must be the first author.

Ques. How long does the FPM Non-Residential programme take to complete?

Ans. The FPM Non-Residential programme typically takes 3-4 years to complete, similar to the Residential track. The maximum time limit is 7 years. The programme consists of 9 months of coursework (3 terms, held on weekends/evenings), followed by a Comprehensive Research Evaluation (CRE), and then thesis work. MBA holders from MDI/IIMs/XLRI/FMS are exempted from the PGDM-level coursework.

Ques. What are the career benefits of the FPM Non-Residential for senior executives?

Ans. The FPM Non-Residential helps senior executives: (1) enhance research and consulting skills; (2) build on past experience and academic achievements; (3) prepare for careers in management teaching and research; (4) maximize effectiveness as an educator or practitioner; (5) make an original contribution to management knowledge. Many FPM Non-Residential alumni have transitioned to academic roles at B-schools or taken up consulting and advisory positions leveraging their research expertise.

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MDI Gurgaon: 3 Answered Questions

Is HR at MDI better than TISS/SCMHRD? Also, does XLRI offer the best course in HR?

Advait JoshiLives in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

It is hard to compare one specific major or stream but whatever is in the public domain the general ranking of these three colleges in HR domain quality-wise and RoI-wise is given below in a table.

Quality wise	RoI wise
XLRI	TISS
TISS	XLRI
SCMHRD	SCMHRD
MDI	MDI

Below is a table comparing these colleges on absolute numbers like fees, highest package, and average package.

Institution	Fees (approx.)	Highest Package	Average Salary	Median Package
XLRI	INR 26 lakhs	INR 1.1 CPA	INR 32.7 LPA	INR 30 LPA
TISS	INR 1.4 lakhs	INR 49 LPA	INR 27.22 LPA	INR 25.75 LPA
MDI	INR 23.5 lakhs	INR 60 LPA	INR 26.1 LPA	INR 26.13 LPA
SCMHRD	INR 22.1 lakhs	INR 67.60 LPA (International) INR 35.02 LPA (Domestic)	INR 23.71 LPA	INR 22 LPA

For HR domain XLRI is the best and RoI wise for HR domain TISS is the best.

What are the placement prospects for a NMP program from MDI Gurgaon?

Ashutosh AgarwalMBA from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

The NMP program of MDI is a well-known program that was initiated in the year 1988. The program is best suitable for Young Managers. Coming to the placement part, most of the students choosing this program are sponsored by the company they were working at and hence have to join back their company once their program is completed.

The general placements are also decent with around 70% placement percentage. But placements depend mostly on the knowledge gained and implemented in your job. Your performance throughout the program determines your placement.

How do the new HR programs of IIM Ranchi, NMIMS, and XIMB measure up to the established ones of XLRI, TISS, MDI and SCMHRD?

Apoorv AshutoshFormer PhD Candidate at Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (2017–2020)

The simple answer to your question is no, the new HR programs of IIM Ranchi, NMIMS, or XIMB are not at par with the established ones XLRI, TISS, MDI, and SCMHRD. The established programs especially that of XLRI are the epitome of HR programs. They cannot be compared to the new ones at any given level or parameter.

Faculty: The professors of XLRI are renowned throughout the industry for their competency. They specialize in almost every domain one can think of be it Law, Competency Modeling, Compensation, or Performance Management.
Peers: It’s the cream students who get the opportunity to get into a prestigious college like XLRI. You can see tough competition between the finest students at college. Every individual has a valuable opinion and stands to contradict others. Their thinking pattern is broad and given a case study, they look at all angles from accounting to finance to laws while proposing the solution. The situation at TISS is also quite similar.

Now one can say that the curriculum can be replicated and learned faculty can be sought to match the quality of the HR program at these institutes. But the truth is faculty and curriculum are the main but not the only factors that determine an institute's worth. Its own culture, ethics, and background have a lot to do with the programs it offers.

So one cannot match XLRIs programs no matter how much they try.

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